MLB Free Agent Rumors: Giants Meet With Bryce Harper

Despite the way the market has unfolded this winter or the growing list of teams inquiring, the Phillies still remain confident they will land one of Harper or Manny Machado.

Fancred's Jon Heyman reported earlier this week that at least eight teams have been in contact with Harper.

Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals looks on from the dugout during a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on August 16, 2018 in St. Louis, Missouri. But with just nine days until pitchers and catchers report to Clearwater - and other destinations - it seems most fans are ready for rumors to be put to rest. The team garnering the most interest by the All-Star is the Chicago White Sox, after signing close friends of Machado to possibly sway him to Windy City. Phillies owner John Middleton said in November that the club was prepared to spend "stupid money" this off-season. Looking forward to the start of the 2019 baseball season- we're in the home stretch, finally! Machado can't get multiple teams to offer him a contract, but a soon-to-be 38-year-old who last pitched for the now-defunct Rockford Riverhawks and Schaumburg Flyers, had the two best teams in the National League Central trying to sign him.

Harper had a 1.008 OPS in 2017. But 2018 did not serve as one of Harper's better years, having hit a career-low.249 despite finishing the year with 34 home runs and 100 RBI.